The Kansas City Royals have endured their two worst losing streaks of the season over the past three-plus weeks. The Royals will try to at least temporarily halt their struggles when they host the San Francisco Giants again on Saturday. Kansas City (82-72) lost 2-1 in Friday's opener of the three-game set to run its losing streak to five games. The Royals lost seven in a row to begin the stretch in which they have dropped 14 of their past 21 games.

All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB z-Philadelphia 92 62 .597 — New York 85 69 .552 7 Atlanta 83 71 .539 9 Washington 69 86 .445 23½ Miami 57 97 .370 35 Central Division W L Pct GB x-Milwaukee 88 66 .571 — Chicago 79 76 .510 9½ St. Louis 77 77 .500 11 Cincinnati 76 80 .487 13 Pittsburgh 72 83 .465 16½ West Division W L Pct GB z-Los Angeles 92 62 .597 — San Diego 88 66 .571 4 Arizona 86 68 .558 6 San Francisco 75 79 .487 17 Colorado 59 95 .383 33 x-clinched division z-clinched playoff berth ___ Friday's Games Chicago Cubs 3, Washington 1 Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 3 Miami 4, Atlanta 3 Philadelphia 12, N.Y. Mets 2 Cleveland 5, St. Louis 1 San Francisco 2, Kansas City 1 Arizona 7, Milwaukee 4 L.A.

San Francisco Giants (75-79, fourth in the NL West) vs. Kansas City Royals (82-72, second in the AL Central) Kansas City, Missouri; Saturday, 5:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Landen Roupp (0-1, 3.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 40 strikeouts); Royals: Brady Singer (9-11, 3.53 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 159 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Royals -205, Giants +170; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the San Francisco Giants looking to end their four-game home skid. Kansas City has an 82-72 record overall and a 45-34 record in home games. The Royals have a 31-14 record in games when they hit at least two home runs. San Francisco has a 34-42 record on the road and a 75-79 record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- - The Kansas City Royals' late-season losing streak stretched to five on Friday night with a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, who got three hits from Heliot Ramos. Kansas City dropped four games behind Baltimore for the first AL wild card spot and saw its lead cut to one game over Minnesota for the second of the three wild cards. "You've got to make your own breaks," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

The Kansas City Royals' late-season losing streak stretched to five on Friday night with a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants, who got three hits from Heliot Ramos. Kansas City dropped four games behind Baltimore for the first AL wild card spot and saw its lead cut to one game over Minnesota for the second of the three wild cards. “You've got to make your own breaks,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Heliot Ramos went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run to help the San Francisco Giants record a 2-1 victory over the host Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Mason Black pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first major league victory. Patrick Bailey also drove in a run as the Giants (75-79) won for the third time in the past four games. Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits for Kansas City to raise his major league-leading average to .334.

Jose Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a home run and Ben Lively allowed one run in five innings of work as the Guardians beat the St. Louis Cardinals Friday.

The Royals have now lost 5 straight during a playoff push. Here’s how they fell to the visiting Giants Friday.

With the Giants officially eliminated from playoff contention, manager Bob Melvin said before their series opener Friday against the Royals that he could create some extra opportunities over the final week of the season for their young players. Perhaps the best audition for 2025 came from their starting pitcher, Mason Black, who turned in his strongest outing yet as a big leaguer in a 2-1 victory. Black earned the first win of his career, while the Giants were an inning away from recording their 10th shutout of the season until Camilo Doval was called on to record the final three outs.

With the Giants officially eliminated from playoff contention, manager Bob Melvin said before their series opener Friday against the Royals that he could create some extra opportunities over the final week of the season for their young players. Perhaps the best audition for 2025 came from their starting pitcher, Mason Black, who turned in his strongest outing yet as a big leaguer in a 2-1 victory. Black earned the first win of his career, while the Giants were an inning away from recording their 10th shutout of the season until Camilo Doval was called on to record the final three outs.

Among the many things that have gone wrong for the San Francisco Giants in 2024, the situation regarding Marco Luciano might be the biggest deal. Luciano, once viewed as one of the top prospects in Major League Baseball, has yet to find a consistent role at the Big League level. No matter the level of prospect he once was, asking Luciano to be a star when he's played in 40 games is an unrealistic ask. If the Giants don't understand that, there are even bigger issues on hand.

BALTIMORE -- - Mike Yastrzemski homered on the game's first pitch, Michael Conforto also hit a solo shot and the San Francisco Giants beat the sinking Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Wednesday night. Baltimore has lost eight of 10 to fall five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East with 10 to play. Before their current skid, the Orioles held a half-game lead. For the second time in two nights, Yastrzemski put the Orioles in an immediate hole with a leadoff homer.

BALTIMORE -- - Mike Yastrzemski homered on the game's first pitch, Michael Conforto also hit a solo shot and the San Francisco Giants beat the sinking Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Wednesday night. Baltimore has lost eight of 10 to fall five games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East with 10 to play. Before their current skid, the Orioles held a half-game lead. For the second time in two nights, Yastrzemski put the Orioles in an immediate hole with a leadoff homer.

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New start time for Saturday’s game at Kauffman between Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants.

The Kansas City Royals say first pitch for Saturday's game against San Francisco Giants has changed due to potential inclement weather.

The Giants expect to pencil Jordan Hicks into their starting rotation again in 2025, but his first season as a full-time starter came to an end Friday. Hicks, 28, was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder, ruling him out for nine remaining games on the Giants' schedule and effectively ending his season. It's the second time shoulder inflammation has forced Hicks to the IL in the past month, but he vowed to return and “finish strong.” Right-hander Austin Warren was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Hicks' spot in the bullpen, where he transitioned at the end of July as the workload of a starting pitcher started to pile up.

The Giants expect to pencil Jordan Hicks into their starting rotation again in 2025, but his first season as a full-time starter came to an end Friday. Hicks, 28, was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder, ruling him out for nine remaining games on the Giants' schedule and effectively ending his season. It's the second time shoulder inflammation has forced Hicks to the IL in the past month, but he vowed to return and “finish strong.” Right-hander Austin Warren was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Hicks' spot in the bullpen, where he transitioned at the end of July as the workload of a starting pitcher started to pile up.

All Times EDT AMERICAN LEAGUE W L Pct WCGB Baltimore 85 68 .556 +5 Kansas City 82 71 .536 +2 Detroit 80 73 .523 — Minnesota 80 73 .523 — Seattle 78 75 .510 2 Boston 76 77 .497 4 ___ Thursday's Games Baltimore 5, San Francisco 3 Cleveland 3, Minnesota 2, 10 innings Seattle 3, N.Y. Yankees 2 Tampa Bay 2, Boston 0 Friday's Games Detroit at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Minnesota at Boston, 7:10 p.m. Seattle at Texas, 8:05 p.m. San Francisco at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m. Chicago White Sox at San Diego, 9:40 p.m. Saturday's Games Detroit (Olson 4-8) at Baltimore (Povich 2-9), 4:05 p.m. Minnesota (López 15-8) at Boston (Crawford 8-15), 4:10 p.m. Seattle (Hancock 3-4) at Texas (Scherzer 2-4), 7:05 p.m. San Francisco